US imposes visa ban sanctions on Palestinian officials

The United States has announced sanctions targeting officials from the Palestinian Authority (PA) and members of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), the State Department confirmed on July 31.

According to the department’s statement, the US is “imposing sanctions that deny visas to PLO members and PA officials.” The move is described as being in line with Washington’s “national security interests to impose consequences and hold the PLO and PA accountable for not complying with their commitments and undermining the prospects for peace,” Caliber.Az reports, citing Al Arabiya. 

BREAKING: State Department announces visa ban sanctions for members of the Palestinian Authority and PLO "undermining the prospects for peace." pic.twitter.com/RH87gOmLGt

— Elizabeth Hagedorn (@ElizHagedorn) July 31, 2025

The PA, which is currently led by Mahmoud Abbas, has been accused by the US of violating provisions under the PLO Commitments Compliance Act of 1989 (PLOCCA) and the Middle East Peace Commitments Act of 2002 (MEPCA).

These alleged violations include “initiating and supporting actions at international organizations,” as well as “taking actions to internationalize its conflict with Israel such as through the International Criminal Court (ICC) and International Court of Justice (ICJ), continuing to support terrorism including incitement and glorification of violence (especially in textbooks), and providing payments and benefits in support of terrorism to Palestinian terrorists and their families.”

The announcement comes over a month before the United Nations General Assembly convenes in New York this September. The State Department did not specify which individuals would be affected by the visa restrictions, leaving uncertainty over whether any Palestinian representatives will be able to attend the high-level international gathering.

Several countries are expected to formally recognise a Palestinian state during the upcoming UN meeting.

By Sabina Mammadli